New Jersey Republican Gov. Chris Christie today vetoed an increase in the minimum wage that was passed by the state’s Democratic senate. Using what’s known as a “conditional veto,” Christie sent the bill back saying he would sign it if certain changes were made, including: shrinking the increase from $8.50 to $8.25 per hour, phasing it in over three years, and eliminating a provision tying the wage to inflation.

New Jersey’s current minimum wage stands at $7.25, so Christie’s veto, in essence, is saying that he believes a $1 increase in the wage over three years is sufficient. As the New Jersey Policy Perspective noted, “the first year increase proposed by the governor of 25 cents will be erased by inflation by the time the third year kicks in its 25 cents.” Here are more benefits that Christie denied to working New Jerseyans:

Starting this week, New Jersey merchants are allowed to pass along some credit card "swipe fees" to customers. However, retailers, restaurant owners, and trade groups say it is highly unlikely any stores in the state will do so.

The retail groups also say recent news stories warning of coming swipe fee surcharges are "propaganda" to shift the focus from credit card company fees to merchant pricing.

"Merchants have no desire to surcharge and no plans to surcharge," said J. Craig Shearman, a vice president of the National Retail Federation. "The concept of widespread surcharging is purely card industry propaganda.''

It is a well known fact that bullies have an inherent ability to find powerless people to victimize. They rarely start up with other bullies or someone that would pose a challenge to them. That fact is on an individual level. The question arises, how does someone bully the masses? How does an Adolf Hitler, a Mussolini, or a Saddam Hussein hypnotize an entire nation to do his will? Surely there are other strong willed people in the crowd. How do they prevent those that stand up against them? 

The simple answer is that they use us against ourselves. They use the fear of the populous to protect them from those that question their actions. They intimidate the weak to not listen to reason. The fear of the masses keeps them in power. 

The APP has written an investigative article revealing the slumlike conditions of much of Lakewood's rental housing. The article is reminiscent of an infamous article that was written by Village Voice magazine that discussed orthodox Jewish slumlords in particular. The cover of the magazine (above) very plainly pointed out that (like Hebrew National hot dogs) we must answer to a higher authority. In bold type on the cover it said plainy, 'HOW CAN A RELIGIOUS PERSON JUSTIFY BEING A SLUMLORD?' That article was exceptionally embarrassing. Almost all of the worst slumlords in New York were of the Jewish Faith, and most were identified as orthodox.  

For years, Lakewood has looked the other way as we allowed people in our community to take advantage of the need for low income housing by renting out homes in substandard conditions, and allowing tenants to sublet rooms to many families under one roof.

It is a blast from the past as the East coast experiences a winter the way it used to be. Cold. As temperatures struggle to stay in the teens, those that don't remember what winter used to feel like are a little shocked.
Now even those that normally brave the frigid temperatures on purpose are afraid to challenge these temperatures.
The Annual Polar Plunge was cancelled due to the wind chill factor, which is in the single digits today. The Polar Bear Plunge is a yearly event held at the beach in Asbury Park. A growing group that started with a few men jumping into the freezing waters for charity has grown to a large party that includes women and children. The risk of hypothermia at these temperatures is almost certain and the planners decided to cancel the event.

They plan on rescheduling the plunge as soon as temperatures rise to a safer level.

By RL

For the past few years there has been constant talk about Tznius, or the lack thereof, in our community.There were Articles and asifos, speeches and letters from Rabbis. Now it seems nobody talks about tznius anymore. Walking around town it seems that the clothes have gotten entirely away from the standards that used to represent our community. It looks like we have lost the war against immodest dress. 

What was the failure? How come so many women, and yes even men, are clueless when it comes to proper Jewish dress?

Ocean County Democrats announced their support for Senator Barbara Buono during a party meeting Saturday in Toms River as they denounced incumbent Chris Christie as a “failure.”

“Governor Christie has been a failure for New Jersey, plain and simple. Under his watch, New Jersey has the highest property taxes in the nation and the fourth worst unemployment rate. That’s failure,” said County Chairman Wyatt Earp. “As a former Budget chair, Barbara Buono has the experience to turn New Jersey’s economy around, while protecting investments we need in education and infrastructure. New Jersey, it’s time to fix our economy and rebuild.”

Earp also noted the history that could be made by electing Buono. ““We have the opportunity to elect the first Democratic woman governor in the history of New Jersey.”

President Barack Obama and the Senate are considering sweeping legislation that will provide new benefits for many Americans. The Americans With No Abilities Act is being hailed as a major legislative goal by advocates of the millions of Americans who lack any real skills or ambition.

"Roughly 50 percent of Americans do not possess the competence and drive necessary to carve out a meaningful role for themselves in society," said California Sen. Barbara Boxer. "We can no longer stand by and allow People of Inability (POI) to be ridiculed and passed over. With this legislation, employers will no longer be able to grant special favors to a small group of workers, simply because they have some idea of what they are doing."

In a Capitol Hill press conference, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid pointed to the success of the U.S. Postal Service, which has a long-standing policy of providing opportunity without regard to performance. Approximately 74 percent of postal employees lack any job skills, making this agency the single largest U.S. employer of Persons With No Ability. The Transportation Security Agency was a close runner up. Under the act, it will be perfectly acceptable to be in second place.